He said John McCain is the “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH” candidate... LOL what a joke.. Sorry Gov Crist.. that will be Duncan Hunter..
Just watched....I’m glad he remembered he has work to do in Fla. I noticed, however, he didn’t answer the question if McCain camp spoke with him about VP.
Dr Fudge
Wholly unqualified RINO trolling for VP....
McCain Kennedy,
McCain Lieberman.
McCAin Edwards
Kerry-McCain proposal
Dr. Juan Hernandez, McCain’s radical Hispanic outreach director
Opposed overturning Roe v. Wade, Would not have nominated Ailto,
NO WAY, NO HOW will I vote for this Democrat.
I dunno how many votes that will bring to the GOP. Now that McCain is an anointed ‘true Conservative’, he needs all the votes he can get.
I saw the Crist interview. A barf alert would have been in order. I gagged when Crist called McDole a ‘true conservative’ and nearly lost it when he called him ‘a conservative’s conservative’. Sheesh!
What is Live on FOX,
From the Hill, how McCain was going to jump to the Dims to take the Senate from Republicans in 2001, then Jeffords jumped.
Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP
John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.
In interviews with The Hill this month, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist.
Democrats had contacted Jeffords and then-Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) in the early months of 2001 about switching parties, but in McCain’s case, they said, it was McCain’s top strategist who came to them.
At the end of their March 31, 2001 lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Bethesda, Md., Downey said Weaver asked why Democrats hadn’t asked McCain to switch parties.
Downey, a well-connected lobbyist, said he was stunned.
“You’re really wondering?” Downey said he told Weaver. “What do you mean you’re wondering?”
“Well, if the right people asked him,” Weaver said, according to Downey, adding that he responded, “The calls will be made. Who do you want?” Weaver this week said he did have lunch with Downey that spring, pointing out that he and Downey “are very good friends.”
He claims, however, that Downey is grossly mischaracterizing their exchange: “We certainly didn’t discuss in any detail about the senator’s political plans and any discussion about party-switchers, generically, would have been limited to the idle gossip which was all around the city about the [Democrats’] aggressive approach about getting any GOP senator to switch in order to gain the majority. Nothing more or less than that.”
Downey said Weaver is well aware that their discussion was much more than typical Washington chit-chat.
“Within seconds” of arriving home from his lunch with Weaver, Downey said he was on the phone to the most powerful Democrats in town. One of the first calls he made was to then-Senate Minority Leader Daschle.
“I did take the call from Tom [Downey],” Daschle said in an interview. “It was Weaver’s comment” to Downey that started the McCain talks, he added.
Daschle noted that McCain at that time was frustrated with the Bush administration as a result of his loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 Republican primary.
Daschle said that throughout April and May of 2001, he and McCain “had meetings and conversations on the floor and in his office, I think in mine as well, about how we would do it, what the conditions would be. We talked about committees and his seniority … [A lot of issues] were on the table.”
Absolutely not so, according to McCain. In a statement released by his campaign, McCain said, “As I said in 2001, I never considered leaving the Republican Party, period.”
Some of the meetings Daschle referred to are detailed in the former senator’s 2003 book.
Other senators who played major roles in the intense recruiting effort, according to Democrats, were then-Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) as well as Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
“John [Edwards] at that time was working with McCain on a couple things and there was a sense that because of his relationship that he might be a good person to talk to him,” Daschle said. “He was clearly one of those that we thought could be helpful.”
A source close to Edwards said Daschle’s comments are accurate.
Daschle also said, “Both Sen. Reid and I talked to [McCain] both individually and together.”
Several former McCain aides who worked for the senator in 2001 and are now in the private sector did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a longtime friend of McCain’s, said yesterday, “I have never heard one word from John’s mouth to suggest he was going to leave the Republican Party. These are political-intrigue stories that have no basis in fact.”
Speculation about McCain’s flirtations with becoming an Independent surfaced in the press throughout 2001.
In one article, Marshall Wittman, a McCain loyalist and strategist six years ago, put the odds of McCain leaving the Republican Party at “50-50.” Wittman, who now works for Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), declined to comment for this article. A source said that Wittman’s comment at that time was “completely based on speculation.”
McCain consistently shot down the rumors, though Weaver acknowledged this week that the senator did talk to Democrats about leaving the GOP.
He said McCain was invited to a meeting in Kennedy’s office with several other Democratic senators but “didn’t know what the meeting was for” and left soon thereafter. Weaver added that Edwards approached McCain on the Senate floor to discuss the matter.
Daschle, however, said the talks went much further, claiming that there were times that he and Democratic leaders thought McCain “might be our best opportunity.” Daschle stressed that McCain never considered becoming a Democrat, but was close to becoming an Independent.
Downey said, “I actually thought during the initial stages of this that [McCain leaving the Republican Party] was almost a certain deal.”
Weaver, who changed his party affiliation to “Democrat” several years ago, said he respects Daschle and Downey, but added, “They’re partisan Democrats and we’re in the political season.”
Told of Weaver’s version of what happened, Daschle said, “Obviously, our recollection of what transpired is somewhat different.”
Daschle first made some of these assertions in little-noticed parts of his book, titled Like No Other Time: The 107th Congress and the Two Years That Changed America Forever.
The book states that in 2001, Daschle and other Democrats were attempting to persuade three Republicans to leave their party: Jeffords, Chafee, and McCain.
Asked which one was the closest to committing, Daschle answered, “Depended on the day.”
On page 62, Daschle wrote that McCain and Chafee “seemed like real possibilities” to bolt their party. He pointed out that few, if any, of McCain’s people were hired by the Bush administration.
“John didn’t think that was right,” Daschle wrote, “that his staff should be penalized like that.”
Chafee confirmed to The Hill this week that he had meetings with Democrats about changing parties in 2001 because he was “alarmed” at the differences between President Bush’s campaign promises and the policies coming out of his administration.
Weaver said he hasn’t read Daschle’s book, which does not mention the Downey-Weaver lunch.
Mark Salter, who in 2001 was McCain’s chief of staff and now works for the senator’s campaign, said McCain has not at any moment thought about leaving the Republican Party: “Never at any time. Never.”
Salter said there were no staff discussions about this issue, noting he would have been in on them.
Soon after Bush was inaugurated as the nation’s 43rd president, McCain was working with Democrats on many issues, ranging from gun control to healthcare to campaign-finance reform.
McCain’s links to Democrats were so clear that Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) — now a close ally of McCain — publicly criticized him in the early part of 2001 for keeping “unusual company.”
Jeffords pulled the trigger on May 24, 2001, throwing control of the Senate to Democrats. Chafee and McCain then broke off their discussions with Democratic leaders, according to Democrats.
Downey said he talked to Weaver at least once a week during McCain’s discussions with Democrats, asking him questions like, “What is the state of play?” and “Where are we?”
“Weaver was very active in this,” Downey said, “None of this happens without Weaver.”
The Democrats’ claims about McCain come as the senator is courting the Republican base for his 2008 White House bid. Other frontrunners for the GOP nomination have raised some eyebrows in conservative circles. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) voted for Democratic Sen. Paul Tsongas (Mass.) in 1992, while ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) endorsed then-New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (D) a couple years later.
Asked why this news hasn’t come out before, Downey said, “It’s a mystery to me. And in fact, the last time Weaver and I had dinner together [on April 26, 2006], we laughed about this … It’s never been written about, never got in the paper.”
He denied any political motivation, saying he is still friends with Weaver and “deeply respects” McCain. “I would have been happy to come forward last year or the year before if someone had asked … There were meetings in offices. You can’t deny [these meetings took place]. They occurred.”
Downey added, “It’s my hope that John McCain is the Republican nominee because from my perspective, although I think Democrats are going to win, if they don’t, McCain is the sort of man I would feel comfortable [with] as the president of the United States. I’m not trying to hurt him.”
Daschle said he doesn’t believe the new revelations will hurt McCain. “Everyone has known John McCain to be independent, to take his own course. That was a time in his life when he at least weighed the possibility of becoming an independent, but he rejected it, so I can’t imagine that can ever be used as a political liability.”
On June 2, 2001, The Washington Post ran a front-page story with the headline “McCain is Considering Leaving GOP; Arizona Senator Might Launch a Third-Party Challenge to Bush in 2004.”
The article, written in the wake of the Jeffords’s announcement, noted that Daschle and his wife were visiting the McCains at the senator’s home in Arizona for what was billed by McCain’s office as a social event. But by that time, McCain had decided to stay a Republican, according to Daschle.
In his book, Daschle wrote that plans for the June weekend getaway were made months earlier when McCain was mulling changing his party affiliation.
As the media camped outside the senator’s vacation house in Sedona, Ariz., Daschle and McCain discussed “what an incredible piece of history Jim Jeffords had just written,” Daschle wrote. “Nothing was said about John doing the same thing. I think we both knew that wasn’t going to happen, not now.”
McCain and Bush settled their differences before the president’s reelection campaign in 2004, when McCain strongly backed his former nemesis after reportedly rejecting an offer from Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to become his vice presidential nominee. Last year, McCain aggressively stumped for dozens of GOP candidates.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html
And to do it on national TV, yet.
My daughter will proudly vote for Senator Mccain in Virginia next week!
Ewwww.
Free Republic Opinion Poll:
Would you be for or against McCain?
Member Opinion
against 92.4% 2,989
for 7.6% 247
More YOUTUBE - McCain On Abortion (UH OH! YouTube Has a Video of Him in 1999)
McCain and Stem Cell Research Round-up
Gun Owners of America on McCain's Record.
GUNS AND SCHOOLS: THE POLITICS (McCain tries to grab guns, 1999)
John McCain Losing His Cool YouTube video
Vietnam Veterans Against McCain YouTube video
McCain Argues for U.S. Troop Withdrawl from Somalia Mr. Blackhawk Down (YouTube VIDEO)
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO"
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO" Part II
John McCain: The Manchurian Candidate
The War Secrets Sen. John McCain Hides
A number of articles on McCain. (some the same as above)
McCain Seeks to Change California Primary
McCain/Soros by Rabbi Areyh Spero
Soros' "Reform" (an article about Soros‘ instrumental hand in McCain/Feingold)
McCain's Letter (McCain aligns with Global Enviro activists)
The Turning Point on Global Warming (McCain and Lieberman Op-Ed Alert)
Climate bill sets stage for debate (Sens. McCain, Obama, and Lieberman join forces)
McCain: Global warming is fact, must be addressed [hurl alert]
McCain Sides With Leading Dems on Global Warming (NH voter reminder ALERT
EIA's Analysis of the Lieberman-McCain Climate Change Bill Human Events
McCain's Nose-Under-the-Tent Strategy - McCain's "Climate Stewardship Act" (S. 139), co-sponsored with Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.)
Kyoto Through the Back Door? A Debate on the Lieberman –McCain Climate Stewardship Act - Heritage Foundation
Promising Vote on Global Warming - "But Mr. McCain, as we know, does not give up easily. ... He promises to be just as tenacious on this issue."
McCain Is Booed by Labor Activists
Captains of Industry Could Populate McCain Cabinet ( Lieberman Potential Cabinet Member)
McCain Still Disliked by Fiscal Conservatives (Club For Growth)
McCain Looked into Caucusing with Democrats
John McCain Goes Left for Money
McCain, Obama Make Deal on Financing
Sens. Snowe, Collins to head Maine exploratory committee for McCain
John Kerry: McCain Approached Me About Joining Dem Ticket in 2004
Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP
McCain denies he was close to quitting GOP
Double Talk Express. McCain in his own words. VIDEO
John McCain's Newt Problem (Infidelity to first wife.)
How Cindy McCain was outed for drug addiction(stole drugs from the American Voluntary Medical Team) (McCain used his influence to cover it up.)
McCain and his Chicom Connections: Posts #17 and #18 by Calpernia
TEN REASONS NOT TO SUPPORT MCCAIN (Free Republic thread from 2000)
McCain Ties to Lobbyists Troublesome - Newsmax Staff
McCain Blames Bush For Osama's Escape
McCain Rides to Kerry's Rescue: "John Kerry is Not Weak on Defense" (Today Show alert)
The Real McCain Record Obstacles in the way of conservative support.
McCain Is the Amnesty Candidate
John McCain SCREAMS AT 9/11 FSA MEMBERS FOR OPPOSING HIS BILL TO GIVE AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS
It depends on the meaning of “never” (McCain's Convenient Memory)
UN Double Talk from Straight Talker McCain (Law of the Sea Treaty)
The Conservative Case Against John McCain In 2008
John McCain: Hypocrite by Mark R. Levin
This Man is Not a Republican (re: McCain) (FR thread - Jan. 2000)
Freeper Alert: Sen. KERRY / Communist Vietnamese Killing Off Christains in Central Highlands... (...with Senator McCAIN (R) in complete agreement with him, is because "Engagement" with Communist Vietnam is better for the people of Vietnam in the long run.)
*************************************************************
McCain says:
"Why don't you shut your political pie hole?"
Stifling the www? Online Freedom of Speech Act (H.R. 1606)
"1606 is needed because federal courts have ordered the Federal Election Commission to regulate "electioneering communications" on the Internet because of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (McCain-Feingold). If H.R. 1606 fails to become law, your Web site or blog could be shut down for the 30 days prior to a primary election and the 60 days prior to a general election should you express "electioneering communications."
John McCain, enemy of free speech
I do apologize for making Governor Crist look like a lying a-hole. Not!
Someone needs to alert Chuckles to stop his shilling for McLame and tell him to get back to the state and start working on property tax relief for homeowners.
Crist promised huge tax cuts for overburdened homeowners in Florida.
While our taxes have risen 3 or 4 hundred percent in the last 10 years he gave us about a $250.00 break on a $5000 tax bill.
Meanwhile every govt agency in the state went wild about the calamity about to happen from this minor tax break.
Crist is a liberal bozo not worth spit.
RINOs supporting RINOs.
“Crist initially drew the ire of pro-life advocates when he voted against a 24 hour waiting period for abortions when he was a stat Senator.”
excerpt http://www.lifenews.com/state1803.html
...................
“Offshore drilling separates hopefuls
Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist opposes rigs within 125 miles of Florida’s coast, while Tom Gallagher supports the idea.
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/07/State/Offshore_drilling_sep.shtml";
MEANWHILE, Communist China is drilling offshore of FL.
..............
Crist supports “Earned legalization” which is AMNESTY.
I’m so glad I wasn’t around to see Gov. Suntan who wants to be Vice President Suntan. Never was there an EMPTIER SUIT born on this earth.